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Unless it is the old crap system on your boat- that is no fun to take out.

09-08-2013 11:18 AM

asdf38

Re: Mysterious Engine Piece

Regardless of what it is, it's not doing anything so yank it out!

Nothing feels better than pulling old crap systems from your boat.

09-08-2013 12:19 AM

Capt Len

Re: Mysterious Engine Piece

Back in the dark murky days most carbs were updraught.When the needle fails and floods it just drains into the bilge,which as you can imagine, is a great feature. Also , whether car or boat, it puts the air cleaner down nice and low for easy access to puddles or bilge water. The fancy little unit shown is surely a combo dirt and water filter. They usually had a sintered brass thingme inside.Most fuel pumps in the 40's and 50's had one built in or in line before the carb.I usually had a glass bowl at the carb with an internal shunt thru. Regular gas in the bowl so the purple gas didn't show. Buicks had a grid at the tank filler so dafuzz couldn't dip .

09-07-2013 09:57 PM

hopcar

Re: Mysterious Engine Piece

When I saw that picture the word gascolator popped into my mind. I had to google it but that's what it looks like. They act as a strainer and a sump for water to settle into. I think they are seen on airplanes more often than boats.
Go here and scroll down; Fuel System Components by Great Plains Aircraft Supply Co., Inc.

09-07-2013 09:26 PM

TQA

Re: Mysterious Engine Piece

Harder to flood an engine with an updraft carbie.

Also assuming an inline engine it makes for a more compact unit.

09-07-2013 08:39 PM

SloopJonB

Re: Mysterious Engine Piece

Updraft carbs - who in their right mind would have ever thought those things up? Make the engine suck up instead of down.

I suspect they were a British invention.

09-07-2013 07:02 PM

Azzarac

Re: Mysterious Engine Piece

Not to date myself here but it looks to be a sediment bowl that was commonly used on most updraft carburetor engines made in the 50's. If you open the bowl you should find a small bronze filter inside.

09-07-2013 02:46 PM

Brewgyver

Does look more like a filter than a water separator.

09-07-2013 02:18 PM

TQA

Re: Mysterious Engine Piece

It looks more like a water trap than a fuel filter. Although water traps usually have transparent bowls.